My biggest fear was rejection. I knew I had a 99% chance of getting crushed right in front of my own mom, but a terrifying clarity hit me: if I walked out of there quiet, I was going to regret it for the rest of my life.
One patient, two guests, share a room. The patient, running a fever, flushed and rosy face, laid under the covers of her futon. Beside her was a thorny shadow.